This Saturday afternoon I was reminded again how easily a whitetail can spook.
Saturday afternoon I setup on a really sweet spot; river bottom, heavy trails leading to the end of corn fields. Pretty much the ideal of where I like to hunt. Heck wish I was there now.
Never hunted this spot before, so I am trying to figure out where/how to setup. This is why preseason scouting is so important you avoid these stupid situations, but I can't always get out and the bugs in the river bottoms in August are not my cup of tea. So here I am, if you move to much you will get your scent all over the place. I am sure that at least some of you have been in this situation, I settle for a spot that is less than ideal, but not too bad either.
I have decided to stay on the ground a whole lot more the last couple of years and besides there really wasn't any good spots for a tree stand anyway.
So I setup on top of a knoll looking down on two heavily used trails, brush all around me and a nice wide tree to hide behind. sitting (more laying than sitting) on a little folding seat I have become found of, I was way to comfortable and the bow was laying on the ground instead of being in my hand. Around three o'clock here comes doe number one down the trial in a slow trot and stops right in front of the tree that was serving as a blind for me. I am thinking, this is just like she had rehearsed this for me. Problem, I was enjoy the afternoon too much. I come to my feet behind the tree, no way she can see me, and I left up my bow which was laying on the ground instead of leaning against the tree. Dump mistake #1 for the day. I lift the bow up and that was all it took, white flag up slowly walks back into the thick stuff.
OK, I have been doing this for years, I know when I have screwed up. So I get closer to the tree and keep my bow in hand, I am ready his time.
About an hour latter, I look on the other side of the tree and here is this doe looking right at me, where the heck did she come from. It just finished raining Friday and the ground was quiet. So knowing that an eye-to-eye stare down never works, I slowly move my head back behind the tree. Here I am again! Me hiding and the deer looking, trees are not suppose to move you know. Not much to do except stay behind the tree in the hopes she decides that everything really is ok. She becomes a statue for a good 15 minutes, big doe. Never raises her tail, but decides to take another path that leads away from me, about this time I am thinking...I remember how difficult this is (like I ever forgot).
Later on, I guess around five, here comes another doe down the trail, head down eating as she walks, not a care in the world as relaxed as a whitetail every gets. I was thinking those back straps sure do taste good on the grill. I wait until she gets behind the tree looking for a quartering away shot as she comes out on the other side. OK, where did she go? Why did she stop? The wind is in my favor, and there is no way she could have seen me. Tail goes up and she walks off into the thick stuff.
The deer sure out smarted me all afternoon, but I count this as a very successful hunt by my measure of success. The deer will still be there next time and so will I (a little more humble this time).
Topic: Deer on the ground and humble pie (Read 454 times)
